OneFootball
·17 giugno 2025
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·17 giugno 2025
Two matches valid for Groups C and D of the Club World Cup were played tonight: Boca Juniors-Benfica and Flamengo-Espérance.
Let's see how these two games went and what the situation is in the two groups.
Boca Juniors started very strong and in half an hour seemed to have already closed the deal: Merentiel (21') and Battaglia (27') scored twice, but Benfica didn't collapse. Di María reopened everything on the penalty (45+3') that also generated the expulsion of Ander Herrera on the bench, who came out due to injury during the first half: red card for trying to advance towards the monitor and the referee.
In the second half, the fury continued: at 72′ Andrea Belotti – who had come on – received a direct red card for a very high and dangerous intervention on Ayrton Costa, a decision confirmed after VAR review.
A few minutes before the final whistle, Nicolás Figal also left the field early: a violent entry on Advíncula ignited new clashes, with players and benches almost ready to fight.
Boca wasted the knockout blow and at 84′ Otamendi punished with a header from a corner kick. It's a draw that tastes like a defeat for the Xeneizes.
Group C
Flamengo immediately imposed their rhythm and crushed the Tunisian team Esperance with a relentless ball possession and enveloping maneuvers. After just 17 minutes, de Arrascaeta finalized with precision an action refined by Araújo, opening the scoring and the curtain on a one-way game.
The Tunisians tried to react but never really managed to become dangerous: the carioca defense was impenetrable and the goalkeeper remained almost inactive. At 70', Araujo closed the accounts with a powerful shot from the limit, served with intelligence by Jorginho.
Group D
It's a clear victory that launches Flamengo towards the match with Chelsea: decisive for the top of the group.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
📸 MOHAMED TAGELDIN